Lakewood, RTA revisit Clifton Boulevard project

View full sizeCODY PECK/SUN NEWSClifton Boulevard could be in for some upgrades if the revised Clifton Enhancement Project is approved by the Ohio Department of Transportation's Transportation Review Advisory Council.

LAKEWOOD A major city enhancement project thought to be abandoned is back on the table, albeit on a smaller scale.

Lakewood officials and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority are revisiting the Clifton Enhancement Project, a plan to improve public transportation and pedestrian safety along Clifton Boulevard in Lakewood.

The project, originally proposed as a more than $8 million venture between Lakewood, the city of Cleveland and RTA, was taken off the table in February due to engineering and regulatory concerns. Mayor Michael Summers also noted at the time that the city could not afford the $486,000 match needed to acquire the necessary federal and state monies.

“Our position then was 'our outcome was less certain,'” Summers said.

However, Summers and his staff met with RTA officials in mid-March to revisit the project. As a result, Lakewood has agreed to a revised version of the plan.

The new version, which would not include the tree-lined median included in the original proposal, would cost $1 million and require a maximum $50,000 investment from Lakewood.

Summers said the new plan focuses on transit related upgrades to Clifton, most notably in the form of new brick bus stations that would include video-phones for pedestrian safety and GPS arrival monitors for rider convenience.

Additionally, concrete pads would be poured in front of the bus stops. According to Summers, this would dramatically prolong the quality of the road surface in front of these stops.

The project would be great for the city, according to Summers. “Our $50,000 gets us $950,000 more money,” Summers said. “That’s a good deal for us.”

Summers said the plan has already been submitted to the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC). He hopes to hear back by mid-April

Read a full version of this story in the April 7 edition of the Sun Post-Herald.

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